The Reign of the Great Elector

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1898 Excerpt: ... and of which he maintained that it could save a man from death, and restore to him the vigor of life. That beloved wife believed in the virtue of this elixir, and, placing a vial of the precious liquid in a golden heirloom, the gift of her mother, presented it to the man whom she had blessed with her love. She made him solemnly swear, laying his hand on her heart, never to part with this jewel, but to wear it on a ribbon around his neck as long as he lived. That happy man kept his word all his lifetime. Now, since he is dead, the treasure has fallen to the poor, wretched beggar, who lies here prostrate in the dust, and has nothing else to call his own but grief and bitter memories. The beggar, though, will faithfully keep the oath given in days of prosperity and joy, and would rather die of hunger than give away that precious memento. But to-day, when in criminal rage he had struck a man, who, indeed, had sorely tempted him, and saw him stretched out before him apparently dying, he felt that he must atone for his misdeed, and, hard as the sacrifice was, open his precious, sacred possession before the curious mob. This he did to save the life of the man whom he had injured. The elixir of the Venetian adept restored Ewald to life, and then the people said that it was done by witchcraft, and wanted to tear my jewel from me. I would not give it up, I was determined to defend it with my life, and had not you come, sir, and your guardsmen driven back the furious mob, they would have conferred upon me the greatest blessing possible, for they would have killed me. I have finished my confession, sir; you know all now." "I know that these people have acted very cruelly and very foolishly!" cried the Elector, lifting up his head and letting his burning...